‘Obesity bribes are a nonsense’ says Southport MEP Paul Nuttall

MOVES to pay fat people to lose weight and smokers to quit was blasted this week by Euro MP Paul Nuttall.

“What stuff and nonsense,” said Mr Nuttall, UKIP MEP for Formby. “This is hard-earned taxpayers’ money they are proposing to use.

“Whatever has happened to personal responsibility?

“And of course this suggestion to bribe obese people and smokers has emanated from NICE, that wonderful body that has refused to pay for life-saving cancer drugs.

“Public consultation on this proposal from NICE’s independent citizens council begins this week and I fervently hope it is given a thumbs-down from every quarter.

“It is up to individuals how they live their lives and not for the state to interfere in such a manner. Being overweight or a smoker is not illegal – yet.

“Moves like this can only raise the spectre that one day in the not-too-distant future it will be.”

WHAT do you think? Should financial incentives be given to overweight people and smokers? Email us at: visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk or write to: Your Views, Formby Times, 26-32 Tulketh St, Southport PR8 1BT.